WiebeTech has unveiled the Maxelerate, an external hard drive with capacities up to 500 gigabytes for the Mac mini. Maxelerate is also a FireWire and USB 2.0 hub. It features three FireWire ports and three USB 2.0 ports. According to WiebeTech, the Maxelerate boasts a disk read and write performance that is 30 percent faster than the drive that comes inside of the Mac mini. The drive is bootable and can be used as a startup disk, taking full advantage of FireWire technology. Maxelerate has been thermally engineered with heat issues in mind. Its aluminum design with integral internal die cast heat sink and fan allows for cooling.

Five configurations of the Maxelerate are available. Prices range from $119.95 for a bare enclosure with no drive to $689.95 for the 500GB model. All models will ship September 6th.

You may have noticed that there are really only two major design models for these MacMini-themed enclosures. As far as I've seen, this particular unit and the one from LaCie appear to be unique. In fact, the LaCie appears to be the best one so far as it introduces an air barrier, which I'm sure allows for better passive air cooling while stacked. Only problem with the LaCie design is that is comes in USB or Firewire but not both.

retrophonic wrote:

Geez, how many different ways can you present the same product? How about a firewire AV interface, an external dual layer DVD+-R, or a *real* hub?

You may have noticed that there are really only two major design models for these MacMini-themed enclosures. As far as I've seen, this particular unit and the one from LaCie appear to be unique. In fact, the LaCie appears to be the best one so far as it introduces an air barrier, which I'm sure allows for better passive air cooling while stacked. Only problem with the LaCie design is that is comes in USB or Firewire but not both.

What do think makes this one unique? The fact that it's not based on the Macpower M9.